The Globe Theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe

The reconstructed open-air Elizabethan theatre on Bankside needs no introduction — timber-framed, thatched roof over the galleries, open to the sky above the yard, three tiers of galleried seating surrounding a thrust stage. It’s the most recognisable theatre in London, and one of the most recognisable in the world. For private hire, it offers something no other venue can: the Globe itself, available for your event.

The Globe Theatre for Filming and Photography

Filming and photography are the primary private hire uses. The authentic 16th-century reconstruction — oak timber, lime-washed walls, hand-painted decoration — provides a backdrop that production teams travel internationally to access. The three tiers of galleries, the open yard, and the thrust stage create multiple shooting angles within a single space, and the natural daylight through the open roof changes the character of the space hour by hour. The Globe accommodates up to 800 seated in the galleries or 600 standing in the yard, with up to 1,500 for public performance configurations.

Private Celebrations at Shakespeare’s Globe

For exclusive hire, the theatre handles private celebrations, corporate events, and performance evenings where the setting is the experience. The 360-degree galleried layout creates an immersive relationship between audience and stage — guests are surrounded by the building rather than facing it, which transforms any programme held here. Theatrical tie-in events can incorporate Globe performers or exclusive access to productions. The space is licensed for ceremonies, making it viable for weddings that want a setting no other venue can offer. The Globe Theatre is completely open to the elements — weather is part of the experience, and summer events (the production season runs approximately May through October) offer the best conditions. Wheelchair accessible with step-free access.

Practical Considerations for Globe Theatre Hire

The theatre doesn’t have permanent AV — equipment is brought in for events, which means production teams can specify exactly what they need rather than working around fixed installations. Cargo lift access supports load-in for larger productions, and free on-site parking simplifies logistics for crew. The Globe sits within the wider Shakespeare’s Globe complex: The Underglobe beneath the stage, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse next door, education studios on Bear Gardens, and Swan at the Globe restaurant and bar. Combined hire across multiple spaces is available for events that need both the theatrical grandeur of the Globe and the practical event infrastructure of The Underglobe or the intimacy of the Playhouse.